SWANSEA CITY stalwart Jason Smith spoke of his "devastation" last night after being forced to retire.

SWANSEA CITY stalwart Jason Smith spoke of his "devastation" last night after being forced to retire.

The 29-year-old club captain has conceded defeat in his battle to overcome an ankle injury that has plagued him for the past two-and-a-half years.

Bromsgrove-born Smith was a key figure in the Swans' Third Division championship-winning side of 2000, but has spent most of the last two years on the treatment table.

Last month the former Coventry trainee, who has been at the Vetch since July 1998, expressed his determination to regain his fitness and help the Swans mount another promotion push. But Smith told The Western Mail he has made the decision to retire after failing to recover from a fourth operation on his ankle in the summer.

"It's a heart-breaking decision and to be honest it hasn't sunk in yet," said Smith, who has not played for the Swans first-team since limping out of the 3-1 defeat at Leyton Orient on April 19. "I'm devastated, gutted, but there's nothing more I can do.

"The simple fact is I'm never going to get back to being the player I once was. It's depressing, but I didn't want to hang around and just make up the numbers."

Smith has suffered from the ankle complaint since he was challenged late by Brentford's Mark McCammon during an LDV Vans Trophy clash at the Vetch in February 2001.

And three operations in the last 18 months have failed to cure the problem.

"Over the past couple of months it has been inevitable that I would have to call it a day," said Smith, who has made more than 160 league and cup appearances for the Swans. "I wanted to give it one more try because this is the best job in the world. But though I've been on the subs' bench for the last few games, my ankle won't allow me to get through 90 minutes

"Three or four years ago things were going well for me, and now I should be even better. But there's no way I could get back to how I was. And there comes a stage when you've got to admit you can't do any more."

Smith is under contract at the Vetch until the end of the season and says he would like the chance to work with the Swansea youngsters.

And boss Brian Flynn, now on the lookout for a defender to replace Smith, said, "I'd like to think there is a role for Jason at the club. The youngsters would benefit from his experience."

Better news for Flynn is the fact leading scorer Lee Trundle is close to signing a 12-month extension to his contract.